Western Australia's 2026 public holidays start with New Year's Day on Thursday 1 January and end with an extra Boxing Day holiday on Monday 28 December. WA is different from the east coast in three ways: Anzac Day on a Saturday gets a Monday too (27 April 2026), WA Day is on 1 June, and the King's Birthday is in September.
These dates come from the Western Australian Government's public holidays page, last updated on 22 October 2026. I've laid out both years side by side, then the substitution rules, the regional exceptions and the pay question every employer asks.
WA public holiday dates for 2026 and 2027
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January | Friday 1 January |
| Australia Day | Monday 26 January | Tuesday 26 January |
| Labour Day | Monday 2 March | Monday 1 March |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April | Friday 26 March |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April | Sunday 28 March |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April | Monday 29 March |
| Anzac Day | Saturday 25 April and Monday 27 April | Sunday 25 April and Monday 26 April |
| Western Australia Day | Monday 1 June | Monday 7 June |
| King's Birthday | Monday 28 September | Monday 27 September |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December | Saturday 25 December and Monday 27 December |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December and Monday 28 December | Sunday 26 December and Tuesday 28 December |
Notice what isn't on the list: there's no Easter Saturday public holiday in WA, unlike some eastern states. If your business also operates in Victoria or Queensland, that's an easy place for a national roster to go wrong.
When a holiday falls on a weekend
WA's substitution rules are more generous than most, and they explain every "and Monday" in the table above:
- When New Year's Day, Anzac Day or Christmas Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is also a public holiday.
- When 26 January falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Australia Day public holiday moves to the first Monday after it.
- When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the following Monday is also a public holiday.
- When Boxing Day falls on a Sunday or Monday, the following Tuesday is also a public holiday.
That's the insight for 2026: because Anzac Day lands on a Saturday, WA workers get Monday 27 April as a public holiday as well. Victoria, by contrast, gives no replacement day for Anzac Day. If you pay staff in both states, the same Monday is a public holiday in one and an ordinary working day in the other.
Regional King's Birthday dates
Some regional areas hold the King's Birthday holiday on a different date, usually to line up with a local event. In those areas, the alternative date replaces the state-wide one, and the state date isn't a public holiday there.
| Local government area | 2026 King's Birthday holiday | Area affected |
|---|---|---|
| City of Karratha | Monday 3 August | Karratha local government district |
| Town of Port Hedland | Monday 3 August | Port Hedland local government district |
So a business with staff in Port Hedland and Perth has two different King's Birthday dates in 2026: 3 August for the Pilbara team and 28 September for Perth. The holiday was known as the Queen's Birthday until 2022.
Holiday pay: first work out which system you're in
This is where WA differs from every other state. Two systems of employment law cover the private sector in Western Australia: the state industrial relations system and the national fair work system. The WA Government says public holiday pay and entitlements depend on three things:
- which system covers the employee
- the employee's award or agreement
- whether they're full time, part time or casual
National system employers and employees are pointed to the Fair Work Ombudsman, and state system employers to the WA Government's public holiday pay guidance. Check which one applies before you apply a federal award rate. If you're in the national system, start with the National Employment Standards, then check how penalty rates apply under your award.
Special one-off holidays
The state can also proclaim a special public holiday at short notice. The WA page records one example: the National Day of Mourning on Thursday 22 September 2022 was proclaimed a special public holiday in WA. If a one-off day is announced, treat it like any other public holiday for rostering and pay.
A quick planning checklist
- Add both Anzac Day Mondays (27 April 2026 and 26 April 2027) to your calendar.
- Put the King's Birthday in September, not June.
- Check whether any staff work in Karratha or Port Hedland.
- Confirm whether each employee is in the state or national system.
- Read the award or agreement for public holiday rates before 1 January.
My verdict
WA is the state where copying an east coast calendar costs you the most. It has fewer Easter days than Victoria, more Monday substitutes, its own WA Day in June and a King's Birthday in late September. Use the WA Government's dates, not a national list, and work out which employment system each worker sits in before you pay the first holiday of 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Monday 27 April 2026 a public holiday in WA?
Yes. Anzac Day falls on Saturday 25 April 2026, and in WA the following Monday is also a public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend.
When is the King's Birthday in WA in 2026?
Monday 28 September 2026 for most of the state. The City of Karratha and Town of Port Hedland observe it on Monday 3 August 2026 instead.
When is WA Day in 2026?
Western Australia Day is Monday 1 June 2026 and Monday 7 June 2027.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in WA?
No. The WA list includes Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, but not the Saturday.
How is public holiday pay worked out in WA?
It depends on whether the employee is in the state or national system, their award or agreement, and whether they're full time, part time or casual.
When is Labour Day in WA in 2026?
Monday 2 March 2026, and Monday 1 March 2027. WA's Labour Day is earlier than Victoria's and much earlier than Queensland's.
Is there an extra public holiday after Christmas 2026 in WA?
Yes. Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December 2026, so Monday 28 December is also a public holiday in WA.
What happens to Australia Day when it falls on a weekend in WA?
When 26 January falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the public holiday moves to the first Monday after it.
